Means for supplying liquid fuel to explosive-motors



J. P. REMINGTON.

MEANS FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID FUEL T0 EXPLOSIVE MOTORS -APPLICAT!0N F'lLED MAYZG, 1919.

Patented Apr. 5, 192].

n Um:

.JOSEPH PERCY EMINGTON, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON menvraeruzame eoMrANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. i

To aZZwizomitmaycohcemw Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. REMING- rox, a citizen of the United States, and'a resident of Philadelphia, county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Means for Supplying Liquid Fuel to Explosive-Motors, of p simple in construction, positive in action, in-

expensive to manufacture and requiring very little space for installation.

-A further object of my invention is'to provide a system for raising the gasolene or other fluid to an elevation sufficient to'insure the flow, by gravity, to the carbureter in such a manner that the flow shall befpractic-ally continuous during the operation of the motor, so as to avoid the necessity of large reservoirs or tanks for directly supplying the carbureter with the fluid, this being accomplished by providing a direct pumping operation ,as distinguished from a (-ontinuoussuction and with-the result that approximately only sufficient gasolene is drawn to the higher level of the motor'as would be required" by the said motor under its maximum consumption. The pumping action is secured by providing the suction from a single cylinder of the motor, sofas to obtain positive intermittent action a's distinguished from a practically continuous suction which would be secured from the intake manifold of a multiple cylinder motor. lVhile in my improved system it is intended that the supply of gasolene shall be maintained' approximately in accordance with the consumption, it is manifest that. the rate of "consumption with the same' engine varies under different speeds and ,loads and cone L equently provision is 'made for operationv between maximum and minimum requirements; and the devices are so constructed that this condition is maintained by. control of the liquid supply, to prevent, on theofie' hand, an abnormal rise of the liquid in the system and, on the other hand, anabnormal return of the liquid to the storage tank dur- Specification of Letters Patent.

.usual manifold system.

MEANS FOR sUPPLYIiiG LIQUID FUEL 'ro ExrLosIv -MoToRs.

Patented Apr. 5, 192 1.

Application' filed may 26, 1919. Serial No. 299,838.

ing any variation in the operation of the motor.

With the above and otherobjects in View, the nature of which will be more fully understood from the description taken in connection with the drawings, the invention consists in the novel construction of apparatus as hereinafter more fully described and defined in the claims. a

- Referring to the drawings; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating the applicat on of my invention to a motor and supply tank; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the means for controlling the flow of the gasolene; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on'the line 33 of Fig. '2, but on a larger scale; and Fig.4, is a perspective VIGW of the'valve piece shown in Figs. .2 and 3, which is directly operated by the intermittent pressure of the motor cylinder.

'2 lllllStI'tltGS a multiple cylinder motor of any suitable character, such as employed in automobiles or motor boats, and in which the several cylinders 3 may be supplied from a common carbureter 4:, through the or supply tank and which is 'shown at a lower level than the, carbureter 4, and from wln ,-h'the gasolene or other explosive fluid is required to flow through pipes 7 and 8. to the carbureter' under the regulation of the control mechanism. 6-which is arranged 5 is thereservoir at a higher elevation than the carbureter and made effective by the varying pressure,

due 'to the pulsations supplied througha pipe 9 from one of the plurality'of cylinders3. I v ,1

In the operation of. this ,apparatusfthe single cylinder 3 operates as a pumpfto supply suction and pressure alternately through the pipe 9, these actions of suction and pressure taking place alternately in 'a rapid intermittent manner during the running of the motor. The construction of the device 6 is such that the suction impulses produced in the pipe 9. are intermittently made effective to create vacuum impulses within the chamber of the said device,

whereas the pressure impulsesin the pipe 9 are excluded as far as possible from the said. chamber of the device. In this manner, the

gasoleneis caused to fi-cw from the tank 5. upwardly through the pipe 7 and into the chamber of the device 6, and thence, by

' gravity, to pass through pipe 8 to .the carbureter 4;. The device 6 is'provided with valve means to prevent a back flow of the gasolene to the tank 5 and at the same time is provided with means for permitting access of atmospheric pressure to its chamber alternately with the suction impulses, these suction impulses and atmospheric admis- 1 sio ns being produced in rapid succession during theinormal running of the motor.

More specifically describing the internal construction of the control deviceG, reference will be made'to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, which illustrate a preferred construction. 10 is a tubular body which is closed at top and bottom to provide a float chamber. At the bottom, this body 10 is screwed into a base a 11 provided with an outlet 12' for connection 0 with the pipe 8 which leads to the carbureter 4; and this outlet 12 is provided with a check valve 13 which permits free flow of gasolene from the float chamber to the carbureter, but prevents any suction within the float chamber drawing the gasolene from the'carbureter through the pipe 8 into the float chamber. Screwed into the bottom of the base 11 is a bushing 14 having a screw threaded nipple for connection with the supply pipe 7 leading from the reservoir 5. The bushing 14 is recessed on its upper part to provide an enlarged chamber 15, and when screwed into place within the bottom of the base 11, it is made to clamp a strainer 16 of suitable material in position to prevent any particles of dirt finding its way from the reservoir 5 to the float chamber and thence to the carbureter.

' The base piece 11, immediately above the 0 strainer 16, is provided with a vertical aperture 17 opening into the float chamber-within the tubular body 10. The lower portion of this aperture is provided with-a valve seat 32 upon which seats a valve 30 to permit 5 flow of gasolene from the reservoir 5 and pipe 7 into the float chamber of the body 10, but prevent backflow from said chamber. The upper part of the passage 17 is provided with an annular bushing 17 which retains the valve 30 within its valve chamber (formed by the passage 17 between the bushing and valve seat) said bushing having on its under side a valve seat 32 for ooo eration with the valve 30 when raise-cl, as s own in Fig. 2. This valve 30 is connected to aguide rod 31 guided through the aperture of the annular bushing 17 andattached to the bottom of-a float 28 arranged in the {float'chamber 24 within the body 10. By this means, the float, when buoyed up by the gasolene within. the float chamber, raises the valve 30 so as to seat upon the valve seat 32, and thus prevent any further inflow; 0f asolene from the reservoir 5 and $5. supply pipe? under the suction'impulses of apparatus.

themotor. When the gasolene'in the float chamber-"becomes lowered by supply to the carbureter or by stoppage of the motor, the float 28 will tend to lower and the gasolene will quickly flow from the float chamber back into the reservoir to an extent sufli cientto lower the float 28 until'the valve 30 seats upon the lower valve seat 32, and thus shut off any further escape of the gasolene from the float chamber. The valve 30, therefore, under the control of the float, acts in a dual capacity of a check valve for retaining gasolene at or below the normal level within the float chamber, and also for' preventing an abnormal rise of the gasolene within the float chamber under increased suction of the motor at higher' speeds. This double capacity of the valve 30 insures perfect automatic operation of the The top of the tubular body 10 is screwed tightly into a head 18 which is provided with a vertical passage 23 and a horizontal passage 20, said passages communicating with each other, as shown. The horizontal passage 20 is provided at one end with a' valve seat 21 and at the other end with a valve seat 22, said valve seats arranged in opposite directions. The passage 20 and its valve seat 21. are in communication with a threaded nipple 19 with which the'pipe 9 (Fig. 1) is connected. 25 is a valve stem preferably square in cross section (Fig. 3) and has upon one end avalveiece 26 and on the other end a valve piece 2 said valve pieces respectively adapted to cooperate with the seats 21 and 22 aforesaid. The length of the valve stem 25 is such that the valve pieces 26 and 27 are separated a slightly greater distance than are the seats 21 and 22,-so that when the valve piece 26, seats tightly upon the seat 21, the valve. piece 27 is clear of its seat 22, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Similarly, when the valve piece 27 is seatedtightly upon its seat 22, the valve piece 26 will be off its seat 21. This valve device is put into rapid reciprocation during the normal running of the motor, as it makes one reciprocation with each.reciprocation of the piston in the cylinder with which it is in communication through the pipe 9.

The operation will now be understood. Assuming that the motor is in operation. with the preliminary supply of gasolene in the carbureter, the alternate suction and pressure which is produced in the cylinder 3 connecting with the pipe 9, will exert alternately a suction and pressure through said pipe in synchronism w th the reciprocations of the piston in the motor, and this will be with every reciprocation of the piston, whether the motor be a two-cycle or four-cycle machine. The higher the speed of the motor, the more rapid will be the alter- 130 through the valve controlled ports, and this.

continues until the gasolene has risen approximately to the level required to raise the float 28, and with it the valve piece- 30, causing it to seat tightly upon the upper valve seat 32, as shown. Thereafter, any

further suction impulses will be ineffective to cause a further inflow of gasolene from the reservoir 5 and supply, pipe 7.

On the pressure stroke of the motor, the valve piece is moved to the left, to the posi ion shown in Fig. 2, in which case the pressure is shut off from, the float chamber and at the same time said float chamber is in communication with the atmosphere by reason of the fact that the valve piece 27 is moved away from its seat 22. When this action takes place, the gasolene within the float chamber is free to pass by the check valve 13 and through pipe 8 to the carbureter 4:, it being understood that the float controlling valve of the carbureter regulates the delivery of gasolene to the'carbure'ter in accordance withits requirements. Under the normal operation of the motor, at something less than maximum speed and fall speeds thereunder, the valve piece will act as a check valveto prevent backflow of gasolene from the float chamber 24: to the reservoir For all higher speeds of the motor than those indicated above, the valve piece 30 will also act as a check valve to prevent backflowof the gasolene, except when the gasolene rises above the normal level and causes the float 28 to be lifted. iVhen this level increases still'further, as indicated in Fig. 2, the float will be raised so high that the valve piece 30 will seat against the upper valve seat 32, and While not act-' #ng in the strict sense as a gravity actuated check valve, it reverses its functions in preventing an inflow of gasolene to the float chamber as distinguished from a return flow to the reservoir. By means of the devices above referred to, the level of the gasolene in the float chamber is maintained Within reasonably close levels, which insure an average normal static head suflicient to cause proper supply of gasolene to the carbureter under all possible conditions. Under normal operation of the .motor, the gasolene sucked .into the float chamber would be slightly in excess of requirements to insure a sufliciency of supply; but irrespective of the speeds of themotor, the efi'ect of the suction is automatically madeemefiectual, i

case of an excess of gasolene in the float chamber, by reason of the fact that this excess causes thevalve piece 30 to close upon the seat 32, and thus shut oft any further inflow of gasolene for the time being. lVhen the valve 26 closes and valve 27 opens under the pressure impulse of the motor cylinder 3, the effect is to first reduce the vacuum in the float chamber by the pressure from the motor cylinder 3, and this is assisted by inflow of alr past the valve 27 and through ports 20 and 23 into the float chamber,

gasolene from the fioat chamber to the carburetor. The suction action and the at mospheric nullifieation thereof takes place in rapid succession commensurate with the speed of the piston in the cylinder of the motor, and these alternating actions produce a slight-inflow of gasolene into the'float chamber and a slight discharge of gasolene from the float chamber to the carburetor With each reciprocation of the piston of the cylinderto which the pipe 9 is connected.

The alternate action of the suction and pressure upon the valve-pieces 26 and 27,

thereby permitting a momentary supply of is to make them reciprocate rapidly and to produce in the float chamber corresponding suction and pressure effects, the former drawing the gasolene from the reservoir 5 into the float, chamber, and the latter causing it to flow to the carburetor; and these results are so rapidly alternated, that the flow from the reservoir 5 to the carburetor mits of the use of a chamber between the reservoir and carbureter of minimum size, as above pointed out.

By reference to F'gsBand a, it will be seen that the stem 25 of the valve pieces 26 and 27 is made square in cross section and the purpose of this is that it shall so fit the aperture 20 at four places, that it is properly guidedfthereby While permitting the passage of air and thereby obviates the necessity'of additional guiding means.

Apparatus of this character. requires. very little additionalspace under the engine hood of an automobile, because the control devices 6 are only approximately six inches long -by;.one inch in diameter and, therefore, it has been found exceedingly easy to install apparatus of this character in the available space in automobiles.

I have described my improved method and means: in that particularity which I deem to be the best ex'p'osition of my inven tion, and that which I prefer in commercial practice, but I do not restrict or confine myself to the minor or secondary details, as such variations may be resorted to as matters of mechanical skill and without a departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. Means. for supplying liquid fuel to an explosive motor, comprising a motor pro vided with a carbureter, and a reservoir for liquid fuel at a lower elevation than the carbureter, in combination with a float chamberat a higher elevation than the carbureter, a pipe leading from the lower part of the float chamber to the carbureter for supplying liquid fuel thereto by gravity,

a pipe for supplying liquid fuel from the reservoir to the float chamber, a pipe leading from the upper part of the float chamher and connecting with the cylinder of the motor whereby rapid alternating impulses of suction and pressure are exerted in said pipe during the normal operation of the motor, valve devices for alternately providing communication between the float chamber and the atmosphere on the one hand and the pipe connecting with the motor cylinder during its suction cycle on the other hand and said valve devices arranged for synchronous reciprocation with each change from pressure to suction and vice versa, in the cylinder of the motor, a float in the float chamber, and a valve operated by the float for automatically controlling the flow of liquid fuel between the reservoir and float chamber to prevent flow of said fluid into the float chamber when the maximum level therein has been reached and to prevent flow of fluid from the float chamber back to the reservoir when a normal or lower level in the float chamber has been reached.

2. The structure specified in claim 1, having the valve which is operated by the float arranged in a valve chamber provided with esteem oppositely directed valve seats at a dis tance apart and said valve raised or lowered by the float to be brought into seating rela tion with either of the oppositely directed valve seats at any one time.

3. The invention specified in claim 1, having the valve which 1s operated by the float arranged in a vertical float passage providvalve seats and said valve adapted to move vertically in the valve chamber under the action of the float and be caused to seat in the upper valve seat when the maximum fluid level in. the float chamber is reached and to seat in the lower valve seat when the normal fluid level is reached in the float chamber.

4. The method for automatically supplying fluid fuel to a carbureter of an explosive motor from a reservoir at a lower level than the carburetor, which consists in supplying liquid fuel to a chamber arranged at a level above the carbureter, maintaining communication between the lower part of the chamber and the reservoir containing the fluid fuel, supplying fluid fuel from the chamber to the carbureter by gravity under a substantially constant static head, raising the fluid fuel from the reservoir to the cham her by means of intermittent vacuum impulses produced by acylinder and piston of the motor, and causing a slightlv varying level of the fluid fuel in the chamber to operate a float actuated valve to control the flow of the fluid fuel from the reservoir to the chamber and permitting a return of the excess of fluid to the reservoir whereby when the fluid level reaches a maximum the supply of fluid from the reservoir to the chamber is automatically and positively cut off, and when the float reaches a minimum level the return flow of the fluid back to the reservoir is automatically cut off but the flow is continued to the carbureter.

In testimony of which invention, I here unto set m hand' J OS PH PER-CY REMINGTON.

mg a valve chamber with upper and lower 

